Reading, Pa. (April 10, 2021) - Alvernia University softball (13-3, 13-3) split with Stevenson University (14-6, 10-4) on Saturday in a MAC Commonwealth softball doubleheader at Alvernia University. 

The doubleheader was a matchup of the MAC Commonwealth's top two teams going into the weekend. Alvernia was sitting atop the conference and ranked #24 in the country, and Stevenson was second in the conference and receiving votes for a national ranking.

The Golden Wolves took game 3-1, but the Mustangs came out on top of an offensive battle in game two with a 13-10 win.

In game one of the afternoon, the two teams were locked in a scoreless battle entering the bottom of the fourth when Alvernia put two runs on the board. Alyssa Acker scored Alvernia's first of the game during a fielding error on Kerstin Koenig's at bat. Paige Paciolla then drove in Acker on an infield single to put Alvernia up 2-0.

The Mustangs made it a one run game in the top of the sixth on an RBI double to the right gap.

Alvernia responded in its half of the sixth with Maggie Loomis getting under the tag at the plate on Riley Shield's at bat. 

Alvernia retired the side in the top of the seventh to take the 3-1 win.

Shields picked up her eighth win of the season with an eight strikeout, three hit performance over the complete game.

Game two would turn out to be an offensive showdown. 

The Mustangs opened the game with a two-run first inning, but Alvernia plated three runs of its own in the bottom of the third to maintain a 3-2 lead. Acker, Koenig and Sara Campbell each drove in runs in the bottom of the first.

Stevenson would extend its lead all the way to 10-3 with three runs scored in the third, two in the fourth, and another three in the fifth.

Alvernia chipped away at the lead though with a five run bottom of the fifth. Sarah Reinert drove in two runs on a single to left field to cut Alvernia's deficit down to 10-5. An error during the at bat of Shields allowed two more runs to score to make it just a three run lead, 10-7, for the Mustangs. An RBI single by Acker drove in Loomis for the final run of the inning, and dropping Stevenson's lead to two runs at 10-8. 

The Golden Wolves cut it down to a one run deficit in the bottom of the sixth with Analise Fouracre driving in Devon Hudson to make it 10-9.

Stevenson responded in the top of the seventh, scoring three runs to extend its lead back to four runs at 13-9.

Alvernia got one back in the bottom of the seventh with Paciolla scoring on a wild pitch to make it 13-10.

Alvernia had the tying run at the plate with two outs, but was unable to rally as the Mustangs took the 13-10 win.

Reinert led Alvernia with a 3-for-5 performance at the plate, scoring two runs and driving in three more. Five Golden Wolves would record two hits on the game.

Alvernia closes out its series with Stevenson tomorrow at Stevenson.